Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: The UAE remained Japan’s top provider of crude oil in May 2021 with 29.14 million barrels or 38.9% of total imports; data from the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy that belong to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed.

Saudi Arabia ranked second in May with 25.56 million barrels or 34.1% of the total. In the previous month, April 2021, Saudi oil provided 26.27 million barrels or 33.6% of the total imports.

Japan imported a total of 79.58 million barrels during May compared to  79.58  million in April 2021.

The share of Arab oil in May remains crucial for Japan’s energy security at 92.9% of total imports or 69.62 million barrels provided by seven Arab countries, including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Libya. The other 7% of oil consumed in Japan in May came from five countries on three continents.

Imports from Qatar equaled 7.89 million barrels, or 10.7% of the total, while Kuwait provided 5.42 million barrels or 7.2% of total imports. Oman provided 523,753 barrels or 0.7% of the total while Libya provided 199,000 (0.3%).

While there were no imports from the United States in May, Russia continued to be the only European source providing Japan with 4.38 million barrels of crude oil, or 5.8% of the total.

Malaysia supplied 03% of the total while Indonesia provided 0.2%. Australia and Ecuador supplied 0.2% and 0.3% of the total imports, respectively.

The figures cited represent the quantities of oil that arrived at refineries, tanks, and warehouses located at ports in Japan during May 2021.

Oil generates about one-third of Japan’s energy.